Pcp handover in a mesh network after a change of role of a station associated with a first node receiving from another node an indication of association

Abstract

Systems, methods, and instrumentalities are disclosed for joining a node to a network, the method comprising a station associated with a first node sending a first beacon, wherein the first beacon is sent with an indication that the first beacon is sent from a station entity, and wherein the station associated with the first node belongs to a first personal basic service set (PBSS); the station associated with the first node receiving a transmission from a station associated with a second node that indicates that the station associated with the second node wants to associate with the station associated with a first node, wherein the station associated with the second node is unassociated with the first PBSS; the station associated with the first node sending a message to a PBSS Control Point (PCP) associated with a third node, wherein the message is associated with handover preparation; the station associated with the first node receiving acceptance to change personality to a PCP and perform handover; and the station associated with the first node changing to a PCP and performing handover, wherein the station associated with the first node forms a second PBSS and does not belong to the first PBSS, and wherein handover comprises the PCP associated with the first node associating with the station associated with the second node.

1 . A method to join a node to a network, the method comprising:
 a station associated with a first node sending a first beacon, wherein the first beacon is sent with an indication that the first beacon is sent from a station entity, and wherein the station associated with the first node belongs to a first personal basic service set (PBSS);   the station associated with the first node receiving a transmission from a station associated with a second node that indicates that the station associated with the second node wants to associate with the station associated with a first node, wherein the station associated with the second node is unassociated with the first PBSS;   the station associated with the first node sending a message to a PBSS Control Point (PCP) associated with a third node, wherein the message is associated with handover preparation;   the station associated with the first node receiving acceptance to change personality to a PCP and perform handover; and   the station associated with the first node changing to a PCP and performing handover, wherein the station associated with the first node forms a second PBSS and does not belong to the first PBSS, and wherein handover comprises the PCP associated with the first node associating with the station associated with the second node.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein handover preparation comprises sending the message and determining link information between the station associated with the first node and one or more other stations associated with the first PBSS. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein determining link information comprises:
 the station associated with the first node receiving a message from the PCP associated with the third node, wherein the message comprises identity information of the one or more other stations; and   the station associated with the first node determining a respective link metric associated with each of the one or more other stations.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising the station associated with the first node sending the link information to a controller. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein receiving acceptance to change personality to a PCP and perform handover comprises:
 the station associated with the first node receiving a grant from a controller to change personality to a PCP; and   the station associated with the first node receiving acceptance of a handover request from the PCP associated with the third node.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein handover comprises associating with a station of the one or more other stations. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the PCP associated with the first node sending a second beacon, wherein the second beacon is sent with an indication that the second beacon is sent from a PCP entity. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein when the station associated with the second node sends the transmission, the station associated with the second node is unassociated with the network. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first beacon is a retransmission of a beacon that was received from the PCP associated with a third node. 
     
     
         10 . A first node comprising:
 a plurality of sectors, wherein a sector of the first node is configured as a station, and wherein the station is configured to:   send a first beacon, wherein the first beacon is sent with an indication that the first beacon is sent from a station entity, and wherein the station associated with the first node belongs to a first personal basic service set (PBSS);   receive a transmission from a station associated with a second node that indicates that the station associated with the second node wants to associate with the station associated with a first node, wherein the station associated with the second node is unassociated with the first PBSS;   send a message to a PBSS Control Point (PCP) associated with a third node, wherein the message is associated with handover preparation;   receive acceptance to change personality to a PCP and perform handover; and   change to a PCP and perform handover, wherein the station associated with the first node forms a second PBSS and does not belong to the first PBSS, and wherein handover comprises the PCP associated with the first node associating with the station associated with the second node.   
     
     
         11 . The first node of  claim 10 , wherein handover preparation comprises sending the message and determining link information between the station associated with the first node and one or more other stations associated with the first PBSS. 
     
     
         12 . The first node of  claim 11 , wherein determining link information comprises:
 the station associated with the first node receiving a message from the PCP associated with the third node, wherein the message comprises identity information of the one or more other stations; and   the station associated with the first node determining a respective link metric associated with each of the one or more other stations.   
     
     
         13 . The first node of  claim 12 , further comprising the station associated with the first node sending the link information to a controller. 
     
     
         14 . The first node of  claim 13 , wherein receiving acceptance to change personality to a PCP and perform handover comprises:
 the station associated with the first node receiving a grant from a controller to change personality to a PCP; and   the station associated with the first node receiving acceptance of a handover request from the PCP associated with the third node.   
     
     
         15 . The first node of  claim 14 , wherein handover comprises associating with a station of the one or more other stations. 
     
     
         16 . The first node of  claim 10 , further comprising the PCP associated with the first node sending a second beacon, wherein the second beacon is sent with an indication that the second beacon is sent from a PCP entity. 
     
     
         17 . The first node of  claim 10 , wherein when the station associated with the second node sends the transmission, the station associated with the second node is unassociated with the network. 
     
     
         18 . The first node of  claim 10 , wherein the first beacon is a retransmission of a beacon that was received from the PCP associated with a third node.